MyDallasMavs: Second Round- Mavs vs Lakers: Game 2

After coming back from a 16-point deficit in Game 1, the Mavericks were well aware that the Lakers would look for revenge in Game 2; but the Mavs stayed focused and were able to get a big victory, 93-81, going back to Dallas with a 2-0 advantage.

The Lakers hit their first four shots of the first quarter before Dallas' defense stepped up. DeShawn Stevenson swished in two 3-pointers followed by a Tyson Chandler alley-oop pass from Terry and another 3-pointer from Dirk to end the first quarter with Dallas up 26-20.

The Mavericks lead continued into the second quarter until Kobe sparked a 12-2 Laker run to take the lead. Ron Artest received a technical foul after a hard foul on Chandler, while Dirk put matters into his own hands to gain a 51-49 lead to end the second.

At the half, Bryant and Bynum each had 14 points while Dirk had 15 points of his own. Throughout the first two quarters, Dallas outshot the Lakers, 50% to 47.7%, and were 4 for 10 from 3-point range as opposed to the Lakers 0 for 7.

The Mavericks started off the third quarter with four turnovers (matching the number for the entire first half) but managed to keep the lead. Dallas handled the ball great as well as dominated in defense while Dirk swished in shot after shot to hold the Lakers to a 13-point period. The Mavericks ended the third quarter with a 68-62 lead over LA.

The Lakers' trouble from beyond the arc continued into the fourth while Barea ran the floor and helped the Mavs gain a 79-69 lead with 6 minutes left to go. Their lead would continue to grow to as large as 15 as they took an 87-73 lead with less than 3 minutes on the clock. Bryant finally hit a 3-pointer to end their 0 for 15 drought from the outside, but it was too late as the Mavs continued to score. With 24.4 seconds left in the game, Ron Artest smacked Barea hard in the face, acquiring his second technical leading to an ejection from the game. The Mavs held onto their big lead until the final buzzer sounded and got the 93-81 victory.

Dirk finished with a game-high 24 points and 7 rebounds while Marion added 14 points. Barea had 12 points off the bench while Kidd racked up 10 of his own.

For the Lakers, Bryant led the team with 23 points and 5 steals while Bynum had a double double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Gasol also had a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Artest added 10 points of his own.

The Mavs outshot the Lakers, 42% to 41% while hitting 8 for 25 from 3-point range while the Lakers hit just 2 for 20. The Mavs' bench also outscored the Lakers', 30-12.

This is the first time since the 08 finals that LA has lost the first 2 games. When losing the first 2 games, the Lakers are 2-16 all time. In NBA history, the teams that win the first two games on the road have won the series 15 of 18 times. The Mavericks, were the last team to fall 0-2 at home and still manage to win the series (vs the Rockets in 05').

The two teams travel to Dallas to face each other in Game 3 where the Lakers hope to avoid a 0-3 disadvantage, a deficit no team has overcome.

**Game 3 will air on ESPN, Friday, May 6th at 9:30pm ET.